Kyrie Irving is back ... talking about his famous flat Earth theory again, and it’s as confusing as ever. Irving, who debuted his belief in the idea that the Earth might not be round in a podcast with Richard Jefferson in February of 2017, spoke in an interview with the New York Times’ Sopan Deb about what he believes in and what he doesn’t.
Kyrie Irving just wants to have a discussion about if Earth is maybe flat
Yep. Yep.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Honestly, it’s so very confusing because Irving says he doesn’t believe the Earth is flat or round. He keeps saying he isn’t sure, and his whole point here is to have a debate. He isn’t a conspiracy theorist, according to himself... He also doesn’t want to go against science... I’m as lost as you are. But this interview is nothing short of frustratingly entertaining. It feels like the “Who’s on first?” bit.
In his first question, Deb asks Irving if his Flat Earth talks are about him being contrarian and wanting to be different.
Irving’s response: No, I would say at the time when I was talking about it, I had literally been just given so much flak about what I felt, the way the shape of the Earth is. And it garnered so many different opinions; well, of course, the perception was going to be like, “Hey man, you’re just crazy, man, for thinking that.” What I would say is that just exemplified exactly what I meant on the intent of wanting to be different.
Because when you think something completely different, science has proven it, everyone has thought and believed this to be true, and then you say something on the opposing side, and it gets a reaction that’s not necessarily authentic at all. There’s just a “Hey, let’s get this preconceived notion about who he is as a person,” you have no idea. I really wanted to put that on the biggest stage of “now it becomes your side vs. my side.” At the end of the day, does it really matter?
I thiiiink this means something. I really do. Is he trying to say that he’s upset that people started looking at him differently that he stated his flat Earth beliefs?
Next, Irving was reminded that a middle school class that took Irving’s word and wouldn’t believe their teacher who said the Earth was round. Deb mentioned to Irving how much of an impact his words have.
Irving: Oh yeah, no, and I absolutely agree, which is why research and why history has shown that even having opposing sides — I mean, history has shown even back then, our biggest scholars did think the Earth was flat. It didn’t just spark out of anywhere and then everyone just goes into their own groups. Definitely different scientists have come along and proved the law of gravity. Everything that science breeds, and you have specific scientists that are giving all this information. I wanted to open up the conversation, like, “Hey man, do your own research for what you want to believe in.” Our educational system is flawed. History has been changed throughout so much time. I literally got that from what they did to Nikola Tesla of what he was trying to do for just an incredible world. I could just go on and on about this stuff, man.
Yep, Irving referenced an early 1900s physicist while propping up the importance of questioning scientists.
Now we get to the really, really confusing part. Deb asks Irving to clarify whether or not he truly believes the Earth is flat, to which Irving responds with even more questions.
Irving: That’s what I’m asking you. No, no, no. Can you openly admit that you know the Earth is constitutionally round? Like, you know that for sure? Like, I don’t know. I was never trying to convince anyone that the world is flat. I’m not being an advocate for the world being completely flat. No, I don’t know. I really don’t. It’s fun to think about though. It’s fun to have that conversation. It is absolutely fun because people get so agitated and mad. They’re like, “Hey man, you can’t believe that, man. It’s religious, man. It’s just science. You can’t believe anything else. O.K.?” Cool, well, explain to me. Give me what you’ve known about the Earth and your research, and I love it. I love talking about it.
So basically Irving is saying he doesn’t really know. But he’s also saying maybe the Earth is round. But also he’s saying maybe the Earth is flat.
Are you lost? I am. And I’m supposed to be the one explaining this to you.
Here comes more.
Deb asked Irving if he believes that pictures astronauts took of a round Earth are real. Irving’s answer is all over the place, and Deb asks several follow ups for clarification, which are maddeningly still confusing.
Irving: No, I’m actually — yeah. Like I said, I do research on both sides. I’m not against anyone that thinks the Earth is round. I’m not against anyone that thinks it’s flat. I just love hearing the debate. It’s fun to talk about.
Irving: I feel like now you’re asking me if I am now grouping myself with conspiracy theorists that believe that everything that has come out about the Earth being round is completely fake.
Irving: I don’t limit that to not being real. You know what I’m saying? I haven’t convinced myself all the way like everything that has been given to us is fake. No. But you also know that a lot of history has been distorted over time. That’s something that I’m always aware of. I’m not against it all.
Irving: Absolutely. It’s fun for me, man. It’s mentally stimulating to hear because there absolutely are scientists or engineers that have said, “Hey man, I believe the Earth is flat.” But then of course, utilizing an exploitation tactic of utilizing my name and who I am, and all of a sudden it turns into a bigger thing. Which is fine. That’s the way our society works. It is what it is. I don’t mind it.
There’s way more to this interview, which Deb does a fantastic job with, trying to get to the bottom of the very questions we have about Irving. The problem is Irving doesn’t have straight answers for us to consume. He has thoughts, a lot of them, and it appears that he’s merely trying to questions what we’re taught in basic history classes.
But it’s turned into a lot more.
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